Opponents of a $165.2 million retail and commercial center that would replace 254 homes in the Sunset Manor subdivision of Sunset Hills asked a judge this morning to order the city to let its voters decide whether the project should go forward.

Members of the Stop the Sunset Hills Land Grab, a grassroots organization opposed to the project, have collected more than 600 signatures to force a vote but city officials have rejected the initiative petitions, said Will Aschinger, a spokesman for the group, in a press conference outside the St. Louis County courthouse in Clatyon.

The project by Novus Development Co., with $42 million in tax-increment financing from Sunset Hills, is planned for 656 acres east of Lindbergh Boulevard between Interstate 44 and Watson Road. Aschinger confirmed today that Westfield Corp., owner of Crestwood Mall and West County Shopping Center and a competitor of Novus, is helping to finance the suit but is not a party to it.

"The project by Novus Development Co., with $42 million in tax-increment financing from Sunset Hills,"

Missouri Constitution

Article I, Bill of Rights, (not bill of privileges)

Section 28. That private property shall not be taken for private use with or without compensation, unless by consent of the owner, except for private ways of necessity, and except for drains and ditches across the lands of others for agricultural and sanitary purposes, in the manner prescribed by law; and that when an attempt is made to take private property for a use alleged to be public, the question whether the contemplated use be public shall be judicially determined without regard to any legislative declaration that the use is public.

This same thing is going on near my parents home. The Farmer owns something like 800 acres, but wants to retire. He is going to sell it in sections to M/I, Homewood and some other housing builders. Dude was going to make a killing. however some isolationist idiots are attempting to block him. It's just silly.

I can never view a major project involving public money in the St. Louis area without wondering about Dick "Head" Gebhardt's involvement. Is Gephardt or any of his relatives about to make a buck when the project gets railroaded through?

This is about 8 miles from my house - let me give you a local viewpoint. The houses in the development are older - probably built in 60's, small, lower middle income range.

From what I've seen on the news, a lot of the people want to sell - the biggest fight is coming from Crestwood Mall who is about 4 miles away and does NOT want the competition. I would bet the farm that they are financing this suit.

Also, let me add - this development is surrounded on the north side by 6 lanes of major highway, fronted by 4 lanes of busy Lindbergh Blvd. The south is all commercial and I believe the back is also. It's not like they are in the middle of a rural utopia here.

Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.